From DVD: RND Royal Naval Division. From 1916 63rd (RN) Division. W.W.1. 1914-1919. Antwerp, Gallipoli, Western Front. Magazine Issues 1-24, pages 1 to 2443. Copyright © Leonard Sellers 1998, Produced and designed at 17a Bellhouse Road, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 5NL.

This extract is from Issue Number 19 pages 1881-1883

War diary of Private John Vickers Ply. 5825 of No. 1 Company, Plymouth Battalion, R.M.L.I.

His experiences at "Y" Beach, which have also been transcribed by Bob Thompson from the original held at the Royal Marines Museum.

We slept till 1 a.m. Then we turned out, had something to eat and
drink and prepared ourselves generally for the landing. As we got ready, we went on deck, the moon was shining, and everyone of us was very excited, and wondered what dawn would bring. The ship slowed down, and stopped some three miles from the Peninsula, where the trawlers which had been detailed to land us, came alongside. We got into these, which soon made off, in the direction of Gallipoli. It was rather dark now, and we could see several small lights ashore, but they were very distant. As we drew near the land, it grew light quite suddenly, and we were able to see the point at which we were to land. It appeared, from the distance to be an impossible landing, but as we drew nearer we could see that it was not as sheer as at first supposed, although the cliffs were some 200 feet high. The next few minutes were the most exciting I had experienced. The Turks opened fire from all sides, and our battle cruisers and destroyers replied. The intensity of the fire increased, and it was plain, that the troops who were landing on the other beaches were having a hot time. We got out of the trawlers into small boats holding about 30 men, and went inland. The boats grounded some 50 yards from shore, and we jumped out into the water and waded ashore. This was a very difficult task, as the water was over our waist, and we had a decent weight to carry. A few snipers made their presence felt from the top of the cliff, but we soon shelled them off before they caused any casualties.

As soon as we had reached land, we took cover under the cliff, and scouts were sent out. A shell from our own ship, which took them for Turks, killed the K.O.S.B's scouts (two of them). This mistake happened several times, for a shell from a ship pitched into a section killing and wounding six. We were in an awkward fix, for we were being wiped out by our own men, terrible to think of and very disheartening. The scouts returned and reported all clear, no enemy in sight, and we climbed up the cliffs, extended and commenced digging in. The ships were quickly informed by signal of their mistake, and to our great relief they ceased shelling us. We continued to dig, while others were hauling ammunition, barbed wire, machine guns, etc up the cliffs. The village of Krithia was about half a mile away and about 600 yards in front was a trench already dug by the Turks, and was found to be unoccupied by our scouts. We did not take possession of it for we guessed it would be mined.

The day wore on, and we had dug well in. The fire from our ships, and the Turks batteries was terrific. All went well until about 4 p.m. in the afternoon, when the enemy scouts and snipers got busy, and it became necessary not to expose ourselves unnecessarily, as they had already picked several off the first casualty being Private McGuick shot through the head, he died shortly after being hit. Shortly after the snipers made their appearance, the order was passed along the line, "a large body of troops advancing over the skyline," this message was followed by another." A larger body of troops advancing over the skyline." As our platoon had taken up a position about 10 yards from the top of the cliff it was not possible to see them advancing for some time after. They were about 800 to 900 yards away, advancing in massed formation, shouting and waving their rifles above their heads. As soon as they came within a reasonable distance we opened fire upon them. They still rushed on, until the two ships who were supporting us H.M.S. Goliath and H.M.S. Dublin each fired a broadside which completely scattered them It was growing dark now, and the Turks had taken possession of the trench 600 yards away, their snipers kept us busy, but we let them understand that we had snipers too.

Things were rather quiet for a time except for sniping, but we knew, full well that we were in for a lively night, for after dark the ships could not support us, we knew, and the Turks evidently knew this too, for they did not attack again. lt grew dark quickly, we had prepared ourselves for the worst, every man had as much ammunition as he could find room for, and we had plenty in reserve. Shortly after it grew dark, they made their first charge. As we expected, they came up to within 10 yards of our trench, but by keeping up a rapid fire we held them back. They retired for a short time but there was a regular hail of bullets hitting the parapet of the trench and almost blinding us with dirt. This dirt was also getting into the mechanism of our rifles, which added to the difficulty of keeping up our rapid fire. Shortly after they retired, their bombs got to work and came within a few yards of our trenches. They were shot down however, but it was difficult to see more than fifteen yards away from our position, for apart from the darkness and the ground shrubbery there was a dark background. They then made another attack, in their usual close formation, but it was no trouble to hit them. We simply mowed them down, although we could not actually see the effect of our fire. The Fact that they never got into our trench told that they were having a lot of casualties. The noise was awful, wounded groaning and shouting for stretchers (which never came). The incessant rattle of the machine guns, and rifles, the wounded and dying Turks in front calling for "Allah" (their God). To make matters more cheerful it began to rain sharply. We beat off their second attack, but they were not to be denied, and soon came on again with greater force.

Things were looking sick for us now, we were only two thousand strong to commence with, and we were quickly getting weaker with casualties which were not being replaced, whereas the Turks were easily 5 to 1 and were being reinforced. We had great difficulty in beating off their third attack, and our ammunition was running short, the night wore on, but so slowly, how we would welcome the dawn. We held our ground, still, but for how much longer we did not know. They made another stronger attack still, and seeing they could not break through their Officers (German) began shouting out to us in good English to retire, we were however up to these tricks. Our ammunition was almost spent, and we knew we must soon trust to the bayonet. We could not retire for we had nowhere to go only into the sea. Our Captain Tetley gave the order, "Stand by to charge."

It was then, another terrible mistake happened. The Turks, who were still trying hard to break through, made a rush and our second line thinking they had got passed us commenced firing into us, they were quickly informed of their mistake but not before they had caused some casualties. We managed however, to hold them back, and they retired. During the lull we were able to get more ammunition, and the gaps in our front line we filled up with our only supports. We could hear them jabbering, not many yards away. It may have been their Officers giving orders, but not knowing the language we were not much wiser.

They did not retire for long, for they seemed determined to break through. But in spite of their seven attacks, and their superior numbers, we were still holding out when day light came, so we did as we had been expected which was to hold our position at all costs until daybreak. The troops who had landed at "W" Beach were timed to advance and join us up, but they never came. We were not reinforced, so we well knew that before the Turks found out how few we were, we must fall back. They retired from our front as it grew light, for had they stayed the Battleships would have given them their "Breakfast". During the lull we cleaned our rifles, got fresh supplies of ammunition, and had what we called breakfast, we sat down on our "packs" (taking our turns at sentry) and soon began to "nod", when the order to "Retire" was passed from the right of the line. We retired to the extreme edge of the cliffs, but as we were short of both stretchers and bearers some of our wounded were left in the trench. We made a counter attack driving back their "snipers". On regaining our trenches we found they had bayoneted our wounded. Three "Scotties" near me who were in a state of semi-conscientiousness through loss of blood had all been bayoneted through the chest. We got all the wounded away, and not a second too soon, for a large body of Turks made their appearance a few hundred yards ahead. Our company acted as rearguard and we retired with very few losses.

We were taken aboard Goliath in a thoroughly exhausted condition. Here many touching scenes took place for we all sought our chums, and I felt very relieved to find my chums E. Morris and J. Matthews aboard unscratched. It was very touching to hear people asking for their chums, and to be told by others: - "I saw him killed." We had some warm tea which the ships Marines and Bluejackets provided and slept soundly in our Wet cloths on the deck in spite of the firing which was going on.

l would like to thank Matthew Little the archivist at the Royal Marines Museum for his
permission to reproduce this material in the R.N.D. Also Bob Thompson for transcribing it. If anybody has any additional information and would like to contact him His address is :- 2, North Hill Cottages, Dunkerton, Nr Bath, BA2 8BB. Or Telephone 01 761 4705511.

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